Hit-Monkey is an adult cartoon on Hulu based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. It stars a monkey who is a hitman (Fred Tatasciore as Monkey), the ghost of an assassin (Jason Sudeikis as Bryce), an ex-cop (Ally Maki as Haruka), and a former friend out for revenge (Olivia Munn as Akiko/Lady Bullseye). The show was created by Will Speck & Josh Gordon, who are also the head writers. Season 1 was directed by Archer alum Neal Holman, and season 2 is directed by Kevin Mellon, who came from Archer as well. I adored Hit-Monkey season 1. But it never got the mass culture breakout moment it deserved, and for a long time, the future of the show was depressingly uncertain. Yet miraculously, Hit-Monkey season 2 was announced in 2023, and now today the next 10 long-awaited episodes are now available on Hulu. But does season 2 hold up to the magic charm of season 1?
How Hit-Monkey season 2 compares to season 1
Without spoilers, the basic idea of the new season of Hit-Monkey is that ghost assassin Bryce has 48 hours in his physical body, and he has a mission he wants to complete before that time is up. Meanwhile, the titular Monkey meets some new friends who help him question what kind of future he wants for himself, and how long he wants to keep killing. And there are some other lingering threads from season 1 which are continued as well. If you don’t remember season 1, go watch season 1, and maybe you can stop there because season 2 just isn’t the same.
To its credit, Hit-Monkey season 2 is overflowing with cool ideas. From The Last of Us to The Venture Bros., the season is filled with inspiration from things that most people should like! The visuals are exciting, the new characters are indispensable, and the violence is more gratuitous than ever. Sounds perfect, right?
And yet… the season is charmless. Bryce’s new storyline is the emotional core of the season, and the surprising sentimentality of his brief scenes are the parts that worked. However, Bryce’s arc is only a recurring side plot. Monkey’s story dominates the show, which seems great on paper until you realize that everything happening with him is disappointingly predictable.
It hurts to say it, but the plotting of the season is abysmal. It was exhausting to watch, especially once I realized that the story was actually falling into every cliché possible. The fact that this show lacks originality and charm is almost baffling because the first season oozed with originality and charm. This season just doesn’t have the sauce.
The balance issues of Hit-Monkey season 2
Even the visuals of the new season are lackluster. The animation doesn’t look better here. In fact, there’s a lot of 3D animation which looks out of place in this 2D world. Hit-Monkey season 1 also used 3D animation, but applied it more carefully so that the 3D elements felt natural. Season 2 lacks this delicate touch.
Also out of balance is the over-the-top violence, which feels more aggressively excessive than season 1. The action is bigger for the sake of being bigger, without taking the time to be enjoyable or even meaningful for the story. There are so many insanely crazy fights, but never anything as really spectacular or new as the first season. It all fell flat for me. Even with the most dramatic beats in the most tragic moments, I seldom felt the emotions I was supposed to be feeling. Outside of the brief moments with Bryce, there’s just no heart to the show under Kevin Mellon’s direction.
Most of all, I think the biggest betrayal for me is the music. The music of Hit-Monkey season 1 was one of the strongest points of the show for me. The international needle drops interwove masterfully with the funky bass lines of the score, creating a super fun musical experience. This kind of audio expression is so important in a show where the main character is an inarticulate monkey. But in general, season 2 lacks the groovy gems of season 1, and this isn’t just in the soundtrack; even the score is duller too. While season 1 was driven by the excellent music and dynamic visuals, season 2 fails on both accounts.
The characters of Hit-Monkey season 2
Fred Tatasciore returns as Monkey with the impressive range of deeply emotive monkey grunts he used in season 1. Tatasciore’s talents are essential for expressing Monkey’s humanity. While season 2 makes some strong decisions with Monkey’s character that I don’t fully agree with, his emotional turmoil remains central to the show thanks to the heartfelt nuances of Tatasciore’s performance.
Jason Sudeikis also returns as the human ghost Bryce, who is written almost like a knock-off Deadpool. Bryce’s character seems a bit different from season 1, but I suppose we can assume that’s due to general character development across the two seasons. Another great fit is Olivia Munn, whose Akiko returns from season 1 as the new Lady Bullseye. I don’t think her character is used as well as she could have been in season 2, but I appreciated the scenes we did have with her. And lastly, Ally Maki’s Haruka undergoes a major transformation this season. It’s an interesting story direction, but I felt the writers never maximized the potential of the idea, leaving me underwhelmed by the end of the arc.
One of the biggest strengths of Hit-Monkey season 2 is how it expands the character roster with loads of indispensable new heroes, villains, and ambiguous allies. There are so many new characters this season, it almost feels like a soft reboot. The star of the season for me was Leslie Jones’ Eunice. She really starts to shine in episode 3, an episode loaded with fun action, heart, cool music, creative animation – so many of the things I loved in the first season. Yet, Eunice shines above all these elements, earning her place as one of the highlights of the whole series. It’s already hard to imagine the show without Leslie Jones’ hilarious quips.
The fight for Hit-Monkey
In the end, season 2 lacks the style, tight scripting, and overall intelligence of the first season. Despite overflowing with insanely wild ideas, the plotting of Hit-Monkey season 2 is frustratingly boring and predictable.
After finishing the new season, I rewatched season 1 again. The more time I spent watching that stellar first season, the more depressed I felt about the drop in quality in season 2. I’m sure plenty of audience members may still enjoy the show, but for me, Hit-Monkey is no longer a hit.
Hit Monkey season 2 is now streaming on Hulu. Have you seen Hit-Monkey season 1? Are you excited about the new season? Let me know on X/Twitter @vinwriteswords and remember to follow the site @MyCosmicCircus for more monkey madness coming soon!
Hit-Monkey Comics Reading Guide
